Stolen Bag Of Dangerous Drugs Returned

NEW BRITAIN — A bag of potentially fatal medication and emergency radio equipment stolen from an ambulance Friday was returned anonymously later that day, police said.

Technicians at the emergency medical service warned Friday that the stolen medications could cause death or a coma if taken improperly.

Late Friday afternoon, police said, someone called to say the stolen bag would be waiting in an alley. Police said they were unable to identify the caller, but recovered the medication and the radio equipment, valued at $3,500.

"I'm not sure how it got returned," said Jack Jolie, deputy director of the emergency medical service. "But we're very thankful for it."

Jolie picked up the bag Friday evening. It contained medication given to people suffering from cardiac arrest or to help induce labor. The diagnostic and radio equipment is useful only to emergency medical teams, Jolie said.

The cardboard cases covering the medications were slit open, but none of the medications had been touched, Jolie said.

"Whoever took the item must have realized that there is nothing of any value, drugwise or equipmentwise for resale," Jolie said.

The ambulance was entered early Friday morning during an emergency call at a West Main Street nightclub. The back doors of the ambulance were unlocked, but closed, Jolie said.

Thefts during emergencies are unusual, but "they do happen," he said. "Unfortunately, we're going to start locking compartments inside the ambulance."